Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has warned of possible governments led by the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt and the Left in Berlin warned. The former CDUleader said on Deutschlandfunk, that a takeover of power by the AfD or a left-wing governing alliance in Berlin would have consequences for social cohesion and raise the question of whether Germany is seen as a safe home for Jewish people.
Kramp-Karrenbauer coupled her warning with a clear rejection of tactical arrangements such as agreements to tolerate a government and a minority government. She argued that arrangements involving shifting majorities could, in practice, lead to lasting influence for extremist forces. What mattered, she said, was that democratic parties maintained clear red lines against the AfD while also making reliable offers capable of winning majorities.
The immediate reason for the debate is ongoing discussion about possible majorities in state parliaments and in the Berlin House of Representatives. In Saxony-Anhalt, observers point to the AfD’s strength in opinion polls and election results in recent years. In Berlin, the prospects for a red-red-green alliance have been discussed for some time, in which The Left could claim a leading role. Kramp-Karrenbauer views these scenarios critically, without confirming any specific coalition negotiations.
There are clear legal and parliamentary hurdles: governments require solid majorities. The CDU and SPD have reiterated for years that they will not cooperate with the AfD. In Berlin, too, majorities are possible only through formal agreements or stable toleration. These conditions limit short-term opportunities to wield power, but do not rule them out altogether if political alignments shift.
Kramp-Karrenbauer distinguishes between facts and political judgements: on the one hand, she stresses that established parties maintain red lines; on the other, she warns of the gradual normalisation of radical positions in day-to-day parliamentary life. Her comments are aimed at prompting a debate about the ability of the democratic centre to act and the need to regain public trust. In her view, this includes giving clear priority to internal security, resolutely tackling antisemitism and pursuing reliable policies that manage social conflicts rather than inflaming them.
It remains unclear which coalitions are realistic in the coming months. Kramp-Karrenbauer’s appeal is directed at parties at federal and state level, urging them to be transparent about the possible consequences of minority governments and toleration, while also organising viable majorities without the AfD.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).